OUR 10th YEAR
THIS MONTH: SweetStuff • Destinations • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS JUNE 2012
DREAMING OF PELICAN HILL
CHARLESTON PGA PACKAGES
GREETINGS FROM SAN FRANCISCO
Plus: SUMMER GOLF GETAWAYS
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JUNE 2012
Lincoln Park Golf Course • San Francisco, CA
GOLF VACATIONS
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ChipShots
12 • Dreaming of Pelican Hill
by Terry Ross
The Resort at Pelican Hill is one of those experiences that anyone with a destination “Bucket List” of places to travel and golf would want to get to sooner rather than later.
20 • Scoring PGA Access in Charleston
by JD Latorre
If you want to be a spectator at the Ocean Course when the world’s best golfers converge upon Kiawah Island for the 94th PGA Championship this August, you have to act fast.
24 • Summer Golf Getaways June means many things. The days are long. The weather is warm. The drinks are cold. It’s a month during which weekends aren’t enough to satisfy the voracious appetites of have-clubs, will-travel-types looking to gorge themselves on golf.
30 • Greetings From San Francisco
by JD Latorre
The U.S. Open Golf Championship will be held in San Francisco for the fifth time on June 11-17, 2012. Clearly, the United States Golf Association knows where to go to make the U.S. Open “the most rigorous, yet fair and complete examination of golf skills, testing all forms of shotmaking.” Yet San Francisco is perhaps the most unexpected great golf destination in the world.
36 • SweetStuff 6 Golf Vacations • June 2012
by Terry Ross
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FATHER’S DAY GIFTS FOR DAD’S WHO LOVE GOLF
Often it’s hard coming up with new gift ideas for dear-old-dad – especially if he’s the man who has “everything.” But if your father golfs, you are ahead of the game. There is an endless array of products available that would delight any golf fanatic. The difficult part is deciding which one! Most golfers are very particular about their clubs, so unless he has hinted about one specifically, clubs may not make the best gift. As well, giving him a dozen golf balls may not convey: “I’m thinking of you.” But don’t give up yet. Here are a few ideas in every price range that will make Father’s day special: 1. Animal Head Covers by Daphne’s ($15-30) www.daphnesheadcovers.com Does your dad have a favourite breed of dog or wild animal? Or even a nickname – like Moose or Bear? Why not buy him a stuffed animal head cover. He can join the ranks of the numerous tour pros that carry Daphne’s designs like Ernie Els (Lion), Aaron Baddelly (Koala Bear), Justin Leonard (Yellow Lab) and Tiger Woods (what else– a Tiger).
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2. Lessons at Jim McLean’s Golf School ($150/hour) www.jimmclean.com Most golfers, even professional ones, need lessons. So unless your dad prides himself on being self-taught like Bubba Watson, he’d probably love help perfecting his swing. Why not send him to a renowned golf school like Jim Mclean’s. Located across the country, an hour lesson at McLean’s costs around $150 or splurge and send him for a full day session for around $500.
3. Remote Controlled Golf Carts ($550 and up) www.amazon.com If your dad prefers walking the course rather than riding, what could be better than a remote controlled golf cart to help carry his bag? It’s kind of like having your own caddy. Amazon sells a wide range of models, ranging from $550 to $2500. Maybe he’ll have so much energy he’ll start playing two rounds a day. 4. A Trip to the Ryder Cup ($2-3K) www.sportstravel.com If your dad has always talked about seeing a major, why not check it off his bucket list. Send him to the Ryder Cup this September at Medinah. This challenging course has been the site of five major golf tournaments — three US Opens and two PGA Championships. Your dad will get to see 24 of the finest golfers in the world compete.
5. Louis Vuitton Golf Bags ($12K) www.louisvuitton.com Ever buy your mother a designer purse? If so, maybe it’s time for a designer golf bag for your dad. He’ll really make tongues wag on the course when he swings by with a Louis Vuitton. 6. Ferrari Inspired Golf Carts ($20K plus) www.pennwick.com Hey, it’s cheaper than the car. Modeled after the Enzo, this flashy red golf cart boasts an electric motor with a top seep of 20 mph, or approximately 9% of the maximum velocity of the real thing. Options include a six person stretched version in case Dad wants to bring the whole family.
7. High Definition Golf Simulators ($40-50K) www.hdgolf.com If you really want to thank your dad, this may be the ultimate gift. He’ll be able to play anytime he wants, no matter what the time of day or weather. Even the pickiest father will be astounded by the accuracy and realism of a High Definition Golf system. Plus, it can double as a home theater, giving him the ultimate man-cave.
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PGA NATIONAL ANNOUNCES “ULTIMATE FATHER’S DAY PACKAGE”
Weekend Stay-and-Play Features Championship Golf, Tickets to ‘Craft Beer Festival & Burger Bash’ PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – PGA National Resort & Spa – home of the PGA TOUR Honda Classic – announces its “Ultimate Father’s Day Package,” June 15 – 17. With a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Surfrider Foundation Palm Beach County Chapter, the “Craft Beer Festival & Burger Bash” is also taking place “on campus” June 16. This weekend stay-and-play at the legendary South Florida destination starts at $169 per person, per night (double occupancy). This value-packed offer features: • Two nights’ deluxe accommodations • Two tickets to the “Craft Beer Festival & Burger Bash” (must be 21 or older) • One round of golf (per person, per stay) on The Palmer, Squire or Estates Courses (surcharge of $75 per person applies for The Champion Course) • Inclusive cart fees and range balls
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For its “Craft Beer Festival & Burger Bash” (www.pgabeerandburger.eventbrite. com/), PGA National is partnering with Brown Distributing and Lincoln Culinary Institute to showcase the world’s most impressive portfolio of craft beer brands. The roster of fun includes: live entertainment; vendor village with specialty retail goods; food sampling / specialty burgers from local restaurants / chefs; AJ’s Beer City demo on home beer-making; cooking seminars; charity raffle and more. Local restaurants, culinary students and celebrity chefs will compete for the grand title of Palm Beach’s “2012 King of All Burgers.” Participants will have booths where sliders are provided for tasting. Attendees along with local celebrity judges will vote on winners in three categories including “Best Burger,” “Most Innovative Burger” and “Best Non-Beef Burger.” “Our ‘Ultimate Father’s Day Package’ is the ideal way to enjoy a fun holiday weekend of golf and all the comforts and amenities we provide,” says Joel Paige, vice president and managing director. “Plus our ‘Craft Beer Festival & Burger Bash’ will offer great
brews, delicious food, live music and promises to be a mid-June bash to long remember.” For “Ultimate Father’s Day Package” reservations: http://reservations.ihotelier. com/. Advance tee times are recommended. For more PGA National Resort & Spa information visit: www.pgaresort.com. Guest stays are subject to 11 percent tax, $25 daily resort fee (per room).
MYRTLE BEACH GOLF HOLIDAY SUMMER GOLF PACKAGES
South, Central and North Strand Championship Courses, Deluxe Accommodations Featured MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday -- the Grand Strand’s golf marketing cooperative – has released a trio of stay-and-play packages ideal for summer golf vacations with the family, golf buddies or couples. The featured properties span the area’s 60plus miles of sweeping oceanfront and include the charming, scenic fishing communities of the “North Strand;” the convenient, thriving “Central Strand;” and the antebellum charm of
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the “South Strand.” Packages feature spacious villa accommodations and easy access to Myrtle Beach attractions like Broadway at the Beach, Murrells Inlet, Barefoot Landing, The House of Blues and The Alabama Theatre. Prices are per person and include green / cart fees, lodging, taxes and surcharges. The value-rich trifecta: • Four “Big Cats” for the Price of Three -Enjoy three rounds on the “Big Cats” -- Lions Paw, Panthers Run and Tigers Eye -- at Ocean Ridge Plantation in the North Strand and play a complimentary fourth 18 on Leopard’s Chase. Starting at $223, stay three nights in a twobedroom luxury villa at Brunswick Plantation and enjoy a full slate of superb, “wild” championship golf. http://www.golfholiday.com/ packages/?hotelid=202 • Mystical Golf ’s Summer Stay-and-Play from Myrtle Beach Golf Directors – Known for its attention to gracious customer service and high-quality course maintenance, Mystical Golf offers three acclaimed Dan Maplesdesigned Central Strand layouts all rated from 4 to 4-1/2 stars by Golf Digest. Through August 31, this package is $249 per person (quad occupancy, taxes included) with three rounds, three nights’ accommodations in its well-appointed condos and many extras. http://www.golfholiday.com/packages/myrtle-beach-golf-directors/ • Sizzlin’ Summer Special from Caledonia Golf Vacations -- This premier package in the antebellum atmosphere of the South Strand runs from June 4 – Sept. 5. It includes three rounds
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on celebrated Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Plantation with a free two-night stay at The True Blue Resort. Based on quad occupancy, the offer is $299 per golfer. http:// www.golfholiday.com/packages/caledonia-golfvacations/ “Myrtle Beach is one of the most familyfriendly vacation destinations in the U.S. and offers golfers of all ages a tremendous value during the summer,” says Bill Golden, president of Golf Holiday. Getting to Myrtle Beach has never been easier. Seven airlines offer direct flights to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) from more than 20 cities from Canada to Florida. The Grand Strand is within a half day drive of Southeastern population centers like Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, and a day’s drive from Washington D.C., Philadelphia and other East Coast and Midwest cities. For more information about golf packages in Myrtle Beach, visit www.GolfHoliday.com.
SHADOW RIDGE GC ANNOUNCES 2012 SUMMER ACCESS PASS
Local Golfers Offered Exclusive Discounts at One of the Premier Golf Facilities in the Region PALM DESERT, Calif. – May XX, 2012… Shadow Ridge Golf Club, one of the premier golf resorts in Palm Desert, today announced the 2012 Summer Access Pass, providing local golf-
ers with exclusive discounts for the upcoming summer golf season. The 2012 Summer Access Pass, available for just $99, allows local golfers to play the Nick Faldo-designed Championship Golf course at Shadow Ridge Golf Club from now until September 30, 2012, for just $30 per round. In addition, pass holders can take advantage of many other exciting offers, including discounted guest green fees for up to three golfers playing in their foursome; complimentary all day access to the practice facility on day of play; 10% off club fitting fees and club repair at Golf Fitting Studios, a Golf Digest Top 100 Club Fitter; 10% off merchandise purchases in the golf shop; 10% off all instructional programs at the acclaimed Faldo Golf Institute; and 10% off food and beverage at Shadow Ridge (restrictions apply). Tee times can be reserved up to seven days in advance. For more information about the 2012 Summer Access Pass, call the golf shop at 760-674-2700. The first Nick Faldo-designed Championship golf course in the U.S., Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club is set against the beautiful backdrop of the snow-capped Santa Rosa Mountains in Palm Desert, Calif. This beautiful and peaceful valley is often referred to as the “golf capital of the world” because of its ideal playing conditions and abundance of courses. The Championship layout has been voted one of GolfWeek’s Best Resort Courses for 2012, one of the top 20 courses in California according to Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play State-by-State for 2011 and one of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in the nation in 2010 by GolfWorld. Shadow Ridge Golf Club is also home to the world-renowned Faldo Golf Institute, offering instructional programs, including 2- & 3-day golf schools for golfers of all skill levels. About Marriott Golf Marriott Golf manages 61 golf courses at 44 locations in 12 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is one of the world’s premier golf operators. Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises. For more information, visit www.marriottgolf.com.
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By Terr
Dreaming of P
12 Golf Vacations • June 2012
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ryRoss
Pelican Hill
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T
he Resort at Pelican Hill is one of those experiences that anyone with a destination “Bucket List” of places to travel and golf would want to get to sooner rather than later.
Often compared to Pebble Beach in Northern California, Pelican Hill in the Newport Coast section of Southern California compares only if you want equally breathtaking ocean views, two golf courses instead of one, more amenities and outstanding accommodations and weather that is normally more inviting than its Bay area counterpart. Originally built in the early 1990s, the two golf courses at Pelican Hill—the Ocean North and the Ocean South—drew immediate acclaim as world-class golfing venues, but it wasn’t until just four years ago when the accompanying resort was opened that this destination on the So Cal coast took on the distinction of being one of the world’s top golf vacation spots. Condé Nast Traveler ranked it as the #1 U.S. resort last year—and for good reason. Not only did the resort’s developer—The Irvine Company—build a multi-faceted facility that resembles a Tuscan seaside village inspired by the 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, both golf courses were shut down for two years and renovated with a breathtaking 44,000-square foot clubhouse and restaurant added for good measure overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The resort is really a small city on 504 acres consisting of 204 bungalows and 128 villas accessed by small streets that wind around some of
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the most spectacular ocean views on the West Coast. Guests are greeted upon arrival by a clubhouse lobby and Great Room under a 28-foot rotunda complete with hand-cut-and carved Italian limestone fireplace and flanked by 17th-century Flemish tapestries. The compelling view while checking in is the Coliseum Pool, which is the largest circular pool in the world at 136 feet in diameter and is dazzling with its radiant blue bottom created by 1.1 million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles and amphitheater of terraced decks. The pool offers private cabanas, sunbathing areas and dining to go with those fabulous ocean views. In addition to the stunning architecture and attention to design detail, the level of service at the Pelican Hill resort is equally world-class. A personal travel designer plans and arranges every aspect and detail of an upcoming visit, from pre-shipping golf clubs to the resort to scenting the suite with the preferred aromatherapy. Once at the resort, the highly trained, around-the-clock staff – from butlers to concierges, even chefs to cook personal meals – attend to guests’ every need, completely customize the experience, and create a truly one-of-a-kind stay. In the Villas, the resort’s signature lodging, guests can enjoy luxury, ocean-view home accommodations for daily rental or longer term. The two-, three- and four-bedroom Villas feature every imaginable ultra-lux-
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ury appointment and the most thoughtful, comprehensive and personalized service program of amenities, pampering and individual attention that you could ask for. Ranging from 2,200 square feet to 3,581 square feet, the spacious Villas offer expansive terraces with dramatic ocean views, dining areas, personal butlers and staff available at any time 24/7. The appointments immerse guests in the absolute finest of everything, including handhewn wood-beam alder ceilings and limestone fireplaces; sumptuous beds with 500 thread-count linens; luxurious baths with fine toiletries from Gilchrist & Soames; marble walk-in showers and deep-soaking tubs; wine cabinets and gourmet kitchens with Sub Zero refrigerators, Wolf® oven and cook-top, professional cookware from Cuisipro; 60-inch flat screen HD TVs, Bose sound systems, MP3 ports, and wireless Internet and private one- or two-car garages. As an exclusive privilege for Villa guests only, the 10,000-squarefoot Villa Clubhouse is a serene escape from the everyday world with its understated, relaxed elegance, personally tailored service, light-bathed living room, private gourmet dining, radiant blue pool created by handsetting 300,000 hand-cut glass mosaic tiles, luxurious cabanas and stunning vistas of the Pacific. For those visitors not requiring a full home, the Bungalow Guest Rooms and Suites are equally lavish and range in size from 847 to 2,486 square feet and offer an intimate, residential ambiance. Not one detail is overlooked, including hand-crafted wood-beam ceilings, fireplaces framed by Italian limestone, deep soaking marble tubs, 40-inch flat screen televisions, wet bar, Bose sound systems, MP3 ports, wireless Internet, 500-thread-count sheets, and private terraces with unobstructed
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ocean panoramas. To offer a little more in the way of relaxation and pampering The Spa at Pelican Hill® is a great way to spend some time after a round of golf or before dinner. The 23,000-square-foot spa, with its dramatic 28-foot-high Palladian rotunda, wall of flowing water, 22 private treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas and whirlpools, offers an array of soothing experiences and treatments that really recharge and rejuvenate. Expanding the traditional definition of a spa, Pelican Hill’s complete wellness haven offers complimentary fitness classes and daily beach hikes, weekly art-inspired spa soirees and monthly Balanced Wellness Retreats. Additionally, a full-service salon and Barber Chair lounge cater to guest’s nail care, skin care and hair care needs. For anyone with a culinary bent, Pelican doesn’t disappoint. The signature restaurant is Andrea Ristorante with classic Tuscan-inspired dishes rivaling some of the great Italian restaurants in the country, but one of the most popular of the resort’s eateries is the Pelican Grill, located within the clubhouse at the Golf Club. It is a great place to unwind after a round, or as a meeting place for happy hour and just having an outstanding meal where the specialties are locally sourced fresh foods. With its comfortable décor, Italian-inspired architecture, terrace with spectacular ocean and golf course views, sophisticated, yet relaxed circular bar with two huge 9’ x 6’ HD TVs for watching sports events, the Grill has become a popular dining spot for locals. In the open display kitchen, the master culinary team led by Chef Chang Sivilay has created an array of innovative fresh seafood, olivewood-oven pizzas and steak dishes. Combine this with dining al fresco on the terrace – which is equipped with hidden heaters and sunscreens
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for year-round comfort –it is the quintessential California dining experience. Immediately next to the Grill is the sprawling Clubhouse that was constructed as part of the 2007 expansion and resort build out, and has all the amenities of a high-end private club. It has separate men’s and women’s locker rooms and lounges with a full array of appointments and amenities including shoe service, Caffé II Italian coffee bar, a golf shop offering the latest golf fashions and accessories and an intelligently designed, full-service practice facility conveniently located right outside the clubhouse door featuring an expansive practice tee. The center piece of it all--the two 18-hole courses--Ocean North and Ocean South, are both ranked on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses for 2011/2012 and offer some of the best golf you would find anywhere. Staffed with an able crew of caddies, playing golf at Pelican Hill is indeed one of those rare experiences that beg you to come back for more—and often. Renowned architect Tom Fazio used everything at his disposal when designing these two masterpieces along the Pacific shores conceived in harmony with the dramatic natural coastal environment covering nearly 400 picturesque acres. Of the two courses, the Ocean South provides the most spectacular ocean views and although playing to only 6,580 yards from the back tees and a slope of 134, is plenty challenging from there or the Blue Tees at 6,323 yards because of the ample bunkering and tour-like green speed. The fairways are pretty manageable on most holes, while the back-toback Par 3’s on the inward nine provide an interesting contrast—that is if you can stop looking at the ocean.
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Another memorable view goes with the 558-yard Par 5 17th hole on the Ocean North where the view beyond the green is all ocean. Fazio did an outstanding job of melding his design through the coastal hillsides and canyons that are lush with sagebrush and deep, over grown chasms. If top-drawer golf, dining and leisure where not enough to keep one busy at the resort at Pelican Hill, the list of nearby activities available in the surrounding Orange County coastal area is enough to plan several vacations around. Beach outings at Crystal Cove Beach, which is just a short shuttle drive away; hiking and cycling throughout the neighboring Irvine Ranch® open space, parks and trails; surfing, kayaking and other water sports; yachting, sailing, sunset cruises and whale-watching excursions from Newport Harbor; luxury shopping in Fashion Island®, as well as Crystal Cove Promenade™ and Corona del Mar Plaza are all just minutes away. With the summer golf season in full swing, the cool ocean breezes and the ambience of the Southern California coast make Pelican Hill a prime target to cross off of that bucket list. For more info: www.pelicanhill.com
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The Golf Academy at Pelican Hill
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visit to The Resort at Pelican Hill would not be complete without some time spent at the Pelican Hill Golf Academy, which offers individual and group lessons in addition to four different half-day schools geared towards specific aspects of the game. The Academy features Putting schools, Chip, Pitch, and Bunker schools, Full Swing schools, and Playing Schools where instructors accompany students along the course, to enhance or improve whatever specific areas need improving. Private lessons are available at all times to provide customized and individual instruction based on the skill level of any player. The lesson area at the back end of the driving range offers an excellent private teaching area where Director of Instruction Glenn Deck, who heads up the academy, brings some impressive credentials to the teaching facility. His list of accolades includes being recognized as one of the Top 100 Teachers in America by Golf Magazine and he has been named Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year. With 25 years as a player and teacher, Deck brings a comprehensive approach to teaching by examining a student’s overall physical condition, age and ability and then recommending specific stretching and injury prevention techniques. His philosophy revolved around finding what a player does well and implementing changes to enhance and improve their swing or other aspects of the game as opposed to overhauling one’s entire style of play to fit a pre-conceived system. Some time spent with Deck and his staff during a visit to Pelican Hill can well be the highlight of the trip. For more information: www.pelicanhill.com/Golf_Academy
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CHARLESTON by JD Latorre
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GAIN ACCESS TO SOLD OUT 2012 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY Exclusive Opportunity to Purchase Weekend Grounds Tickets via PGAPackages.com
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HARLESTON, S.C. – If you want to be a spectator at the Ocean Course when the world’s best golfers converge upon Kiawah Island for the 94th PGA Championship this August, you have to act fast. Individual tickets to the weekend rounds were sold out by last December and 94% of the ground passes for the other days are also gone; however, several Charleston area hotels have released a limited number of PGA packages that allow guests to attend any day of Championship week play (August 6 – 12, 2012) with a special “one-day, any-day” pass. Listed on PGAPackages.com, these new packages are the only way to score a Friday - Sunday pass onto the Pete Dye-designed course made famous in 1991 during the riveting Ryder Cup matches known as the “War on the Shore.” The mystique surrounding the windswept course has grown significantly since that hotly contested tournament held more than two decades ago, so much so,tournament-long passes for the 2012 PGA Championship sold out faster than for any previous PGA Championship. Worth noting: each ticket or “one-day, any-day” pass is valid for one adult admission plus up to four accompanying juniors (up to the age of 17). A sampling of 2012 PGA Championship ticket packages found exclusively on PGAPackages.com includes:
2012 PGA Championship “Birdie” Hotel Package offered by the John Rutledge House This historic inn located in downtown Charleston is offering a three-night stay for two guests that includes two 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” passes per guest (four passes total) that may be used August 6 – 12, 2012. Also included are wireless internet, hot breakfast delivered to the room daily and an afternoon beverage reception that includes tea, sherry or brandy. Package price is $945 for August 6 – 8 and $1,095 for August 9 – 12. 2012 PGA Championship “Hole in One” Hotel Package offered by the Wentworth Mansion This historic boutique bed and breakfast in downtown Charleston is offering a threenight stay for two guests that includes two 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, anyday” passes per guest (four passes total) that may be used August 6 – 12, 2012. Also included are daily southern breakfasts at Circa 1886 restaurant, afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres reception, and one three-course dinner for two people at Circa 1886, tax and gratuity included (beverages not included). Package price is $1,195 for August 6 – 8 and $1,495 for August 9 – 12.
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2012 PGA Championship Hotel Package offered by Francis Marion Hotel This historic hotel located adjacent to Marion Square in downtown Charleston is offering a four-night stay for two guests that includes two 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” passes per guest (four passes total) that may be used August 8 – 12, 2012. Also included are two cocktails (one per person) each day and turn down service each night. Package price is $1,199. 2012 PGA Championship Hotel Package offered by the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront This hotel that overlooks the Ashley River is offering 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” passes (one per person) with packages booked by June 30, 2012. Also included is daily breakfast for up to two people. From $289/night. 2012 PGA Championship Hotel Package offered by the Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport This hotel, located a short drive from both Kiawah Island Resort and historic downtown Charleston, is offering two 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” passes that can be used August 6 – 12, 2012. Also included are daily hot breakfasts for two guests, two drink tickets for the American Grill and two Hilton Garden Inn golf umbrellas. Package must be booked between June 4 – 30, 2012. From $222/night. 2012 PGA Championship Hotel Package offered by the Sleep Inn Mt. Pleasant This hotel, located in Mt. Pleasant, is offering two 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” passes that can be used August 6 – 12, 2012. Also included are daily continental breakfast, access to wireless internet and daily newspaper. From $169/night. 2012 PGA Championship Hotel Package offered by Comfort Suites North Charleston This all-suite hotel, located a short drive from both Kiawah Island Resort and historic downtown Charleston, is offering a 2012 PGA Championship “one-day, any-day” pass that can be used August 6 – 12, 2012, with this package. Also included are free airport pick-up (9 a.m. – 10 p.m.), hot buffet breakfast and afternoon cocktail reception (Monday – Friday). From $164/night. 2012 PGA Championship VIP Package offered by Wild Dunes This resort located on Isle of Palms is offering a seven-night stay in an oceanfront home with accommodations for up to six people. Included in the package are one daily private helicopter tournament round-trip transfer from Wild Dunes to Kiawah Island Resort, daily tickets to the Champions Club 17th Tee Double Decker Skybox for Thursday – Sunday (six tickets per day), one private dinner at the rental house, one round of golf on the Links Course with the Wild Dunes golf director, premium champagne and Cohiba Robusto cigars upon arrival. Package price is $22,500.
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Summer
Golf Get
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J
une means many things. The day It’s a month during which weeken have-clubs, will-travel-types look can’t-miss summer golf getaways www.golfvacationsmag.com
taways
ys are long. The weather is warm. The drinks are cold. nds aren’t enough to satisfy the voracious appetites of king to gorge themselves on golf. Following is a list of sure to satiate even the biggest appetites. www.golfvacationsmag.com
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Pristine Bay Resort Roatan, Honduras
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Pristine Bay Resort – located on the idyllic Caribbean island of Roatan – is offering an innovative, stay-and-play opportunity combining golf on its Pete and Perry Dye-designed Black Pearl course and scuba. The “Black Pearl Package” features the concept of “Interchangeable Days.” Each day guests have the option of one, 18-hole round of golf or three, single-tank dives. For example, select the seven-night / five “Interchangeable Day” package and spend three days playing the acclaimed Black Pearl and two exploring the world’s second-largest barrier reef. A five-night / three “Interchangeable Day” itinerary is also available. More information: www.pristinebayresort.com, stay@pristinebayresort.com, (713) 489-2554.
Pound Ridge Golf Club Pound Ridge, N.Y. Located just an hour from Manhattan, Pound Ridge offers a golf getaway teeming with energy. Since its opening in 2008, the Pete Dye design has garnered the reputation as the pantheon of Big Apple-area golf. The course is Dye’s only Empire State-layout. He left dramatic rock formations and boulders onsite, creating one of the most visually stunning settings for golf in the U.S. Pound Ridge partners with several New York City, Connecticut and Westchester County hotels, allowing golfers to book tee times, transportation to-and-from the course, and even rental clubs and shoes through the hotel. More information: www.poundridgegolfclub.com, (914) 764-5771.
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WaterColor Inn & Resort Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. WaterColor Inn & Resort – located on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast -- is home to a golf cocktail that’s one part Fazio, one part Norman and one part Love III. The mixture is intoxicating. Tom Fazio’s Camp Creek has gained a reputation as a “player’s” course largely due to its eye-popping slope rating of 152 (one of the highest in the state) from the 7,159-yard back tees. Opened in 2002, Greg Norman’s Shark’s Tooth is a stern test, bobbing and weaving through wetlands and thick strands of coastal trees along the shores of Lake Powell. Couples, families or veteran players looking to hone their games can take advantage of the neighboring Origins Course. Designed by Davis Love III, Origins plays as a six-hole regulation course, nine-hole executive course or 10-hole par-3 course through the use of alternate tee boxes and auxiliary greens. Additionally, WaterColor is home to countless activities to entertain non-golfers and golf widows, including a fitness and tennis center, spa, boutique shopping and Camp WaterColor, a children’s program featuring everything from nature hikes to arts and crafts. For more information: www.watercolorresort.com, (850) 534-5000.
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Saddle Creek Resort Copperopolis, Calif. Nestled in the rolling Sierra foothills, just two hours from the Bay Area and 1.5 hours from Sacramento, Saddle Creek offers a premier golf experience in the heart of California’s “Gold Country.” Golfers will discover stunning vistas of the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east, while an ethereal collection of shimmering lakes, native trees, indigenous grasses and 100 bunkers provides a challenging, thought-provoking experience from tee to green. Guests at Saddle Creek Resort stay in luxurious, course-side cabins, located along the 1st and 9th holes. The bungalows include one or two-bedrooms with a full kitchen, dining area, and a living room with a cozy fireplace. For more information: www.saddlecreek.com, (800) 611-7722.
Mystical Golf Myrtle Beach, S.C. A longtime favorite of “golf buddies,” Myrtle Beach offers a bevy of golf options on the South Carolina coast. This summer, Mystical Golf – home of The Witch, Man-O-War and The Wizard – is offering its Summer Stay-and-Play from Myrtle Beach Golf Directors. The package offers three nights’ accommodations and three rounds on the Dan Maples-designed Central Strand layouts. More Information: http://www.golfholiday.com/packages/myrtle-beach-golf-directors/
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18 reasons why golf in San Francisco is better than a double eagle
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By JD Latorre www.golfvacationsmag.com
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he U.S. Open Golf Championship will be held in San Francisco for the fifth time on June 11-17, 2012. Clearly, the United States Golf Association knows where to go to make the U.S. Open “the most rigorous, yet fair and complete examination of golf skills, testing all forms of shotmaking.” Yet San Francisco is perhaps the most unexpected great golf destination in the world. Nestled amongst a population of some 800,000 residents are six unique and outstanding golf courses, ranging in scale from executive to championship. What’s even more unexpected is the contrast in experiences available off the course. Most golf destinations offer dining, spas and shopping opportunities. San Francisco has famous icons like the Golden Gate Bridge, world class performing arts and museums, and cuisine that is some of the best anywhere. Here are some examples of how far a day – and night – in San Francisco can take you.
The Front 9: 1. TPC Harding Park – Named after avid-golfer and President Warren Harding and opened in 1925, TPC Harding Park is comprised
of Harding Park (18 hole) and Fleming (9 hole) Golf Courses. Designed by golf course architect Willie Watson, who also designed the nearby Olympic Club, the 163-acre course takes advantage of existing topography, contours and vegetation including Monterey Cypress Trees. A frequent PGA TOUR stop in the 1960’s, the newly renovated TPC Harding Park is once again attracting big name tours – host to the 2005 World Golf Championship and the 2009 President’s Cup. http://www.tpc.com/tpc-harding-park
2. Presidio Golf Course – Established in 1895 as part of the former Army base, the Presidio course opened for public play in 1995 and quickly gained a reputation as one of the nation’s top public courses. Located just minutes from downtown San Francisco, this 18-hole course plays 6,500 yards of challenging golf winding through beautiful Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine trees in the city’s trademark hills. Originally designed by Robert Wood Johnstone, the course was expanded in 1910 by Johnstone in collaboration with Wiliam McEwan and redesigned and lengthened by the British firm of Fowler & Simpson in 1921. Arnold Palmer Golf Management keeps the course in top form. http://www.presidiogolf.com
TPC Harding Park
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Presidio Golf Course
3. Gleneagles at McLaren Park – Built in 1962, this challenging course was named one of the 20 Best Nine Hole Courses in the U.S. by Golf World Magazine in 2010. Located on the south side of the city, with 5,860 yards, Gleneagles is home to tough topography, slick greens and one of the most beloved 19th holes anywhere. http://www.gleneaglesgolfsf.com
Gleneagles at McLaren Park
4. Lincoln Park Golf Course – This par 68, 18-hole course, designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1928, is 5,149 yards long. The course is moderately forested with mature cypress and pine trees and native landscaping on rolling and sometimes steep hills. Distant greens disappear into the fog on some days. The course encircles the Legion of Honor museum with its statues on the back side. The 17th hole is famous for its view east to the Golden Gate Bridge and north to the Marin Headlands. http://sfrecpark. org/FindAGolfCourse.aspx
5. Golden Gate Park Golf Course – Built in 1951 on the sand dunes that sit beneath Golden Gate Park, this 9-hole, par three course is where many San Franciscans first learn the game. Still, it remains a challenge even to seasoned golfers. An added treat is the Ironwood BBQ, offering beef brisket, pork, roast, chicken and ribs slow cooked on a Wham Turbo BBQ Pit from Memphis, TN. http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/golfcourse.html
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Lincoln Park Golf Course
Golden Gate Park Golf Course
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Sharp Park Golf Course
6. Sharp Park Golf Course – Located in Pacifica, this course is actually owned by the City of San Francisco and over 71% of its players make the short drive down from the city. The course, opened in 1931, was originally designed by famed architect Alister Mackenzie and landscaped by John McLaren. The par 72 course is 6,299 yards long and offers fabulous views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas. This is a walkable inland and seaside course lined with Cypress and Pine trees that wraps around Laguna Salada, a natural lake ringed with reeds, cattails and tulles. Living in the marsh are a variety of birds including mallards, coots and red-winged blackbirds. http://sfrecpark.org/FindAGolfCourse.aspx 7. To the North – Legendary Napa Valley, verdant Sonoma County and dramatic north coast seashores beckon golfers and, well, everyone. 8. To the East – Play year round from the island of Alameda all the way to the Sierra foothills. Expect lots of blue skies even some vineyards. 9. To the South – How do you get to Pebble Beach? “Practice.” Or head south through the golf-rich communities of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel.
The Back 9: This whole city is the 19th hole 1. The Icons – The Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars, China-
town, Fisherman’s Wharf. You can’t leave without seeing at least one of them. Even the neighborhoods are iconic, like Haight Ashbury, the Castro and the Mission.
2. The performing arts: Symphony, Opera, Ballet, Theatre. – What other golf destination lets you go play, then go see a play? World premieres, world class companies. Explore at www.sanfrancisco.travel and www.sfarts.org.
3. Museums & Attractions – Stretch your mind as well as your backswing at places like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Asian Art Museum, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Exploratorium and the Walt Disney Family Museum. 4. Dining – San Francisco is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean, a state full of fresh produce, and California’s best wineries. No wonder it tastes so good. Find out what Michelin Guides, the James Beard Foundation and Zagat already know. www.golfvacationsmag.com
5. “Beach Blanket Babylon,” “Teatro Zinzanni” and Comedy clubs – The world’s longest running musical review changes bits practically weekly and still packs them in nightly. “Teatro Zinzanni” promises “Love, Chaos & Dinner,” opening in a new location this fall. Rainbow Golf Club
6. Nightlife & Clubs – Speakeasy or dance hall? A couple of each in one night? You’re on! Dive into a classic cocktails at the Redwood Room. Have some Southern cuisine with your tunes at Biscuits & Blues. Rock on at the historic Fillmore. Go for laughs at Cobb’s Comedy Club or the Punch Line. Or catch a classic cabaret act at the Rrazz Room or jazz at Yoshi’s. 7. Shopping – A closet full of logoed golf shirts calls for some retail therapy. Find the top designers and truly unique boutiques from Union Square to Union Street and all around the town. For a truly unique memento of San Francisco, look for products from SFMade.
8. Spas – Tired muscles and weathered skin are no match for the city’s experts. Influences include European, Asian, Russian, organic and all of the above. 9. Hotels – At the end of an amazing day, retire to a luxurious suite, an edgy little boutique hotel or a room above the city lights. Rest up – you can do it all again tomorrow. Book it at www.sanfranciso.travel. For tickets to the U.S. Open Championship, visit www.USGA.org/ tickets. The 2012 U.S. Open Fact Sheet is available at http://www. usga.org/press_room/2012-U-S--Open-Fact-Sheet. For information on reservations, packages, activities and more, visit www.sanfrancisco.travel or call 415-391-2000. Join more than 450,000 people who follow SF Travel on Facebook at www.facebook.com/onlyinsf. Follow “OnlyinSF” on Twitter at http://twitter.com/onlyinsf. For up-to-the-minute information on San Francisco International Airport (SFO) visit www.flysfo.com
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SWEETSTUFF M A
s performance has taken center stage in both the golf equipment and apparel categories with an increasing emphasis on designs and technology to improve play in today’s high-tech world, FootJoy has introduced a new line of golf shoes with an emphasis on promoting footwork stability and balance throughout the swing, combined with a smart, modern athletic look that has become increasingly popular. The XPS-1™ (Xtreme Platform Stability) is being called the most stable golf shoe in the world by FooJoy, and was designed and developed following more than two years of extensive testing and research to deliver new levels of platform stability and balance for players of all abilities. What captures your attention with XPS-1 is also what separates this category from other shoes on the market – the high-performance outsole. The Xtreme Outsole encourages golfers to maximize their overall performance by establishing a stable platform underfoot. The design features TPU lateral outriggers that extend beyond the upper to create an ultra-wide platform for maximum ground contact. In addition, a lightweight fiberglass support structure provides a medial and lateral wrap for mid-foot support. Extra room in the toe box also provides a comfortable fit, especially after a long day of walking on the course. “XPS-1 is a breakthrough product,” said Doug Robinson, FootJoy Vice President of Design & Development Worldwide. “Every detail in the design and engineering is geared to deliver
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the ultimate platform stability for golf. Like a sprinter using starting blocks for explosive thrust, XPS-1 provides an extremely stable base for a golfer to transition from backswing to downswing and drive the lower body. And best of all, we’ve been able to accomplish this while enhancing comfort.” Born from golfer feedback at all levels, XPS-1 has already received strong feedback from the professional ranks around the world. PGA Tour player Gary Woodland, who boasts a ball speed in excess of 200 miles per hour, is an early fan of the product. “XPS-1 is the most stable golf shoe I have ever worn in my life. Having proper footwork is critical to the game of golf. For me, balance is everything. With XPS-1, I can get explosive and fire off my right side,” said Woodland XPS-1 introduces a unique and fresh look to the FJ line of performance golf shoes as the company expands its premium shoe line. In addition to the stable platform and aggressive, athletic-inspired styling, XPS-1 continues the FootJoy heritage of offering unmatched levels of comfort and fit. Innovative 3D Viscoelastic GelCollar™ technology provides custom fit and comfort around the collar while a LaserPlus Last is contoured to precisely match the shape of the foot. A high-performance Multi-Density Fit-Bed® with EVA support and HeelLoc™ technology further enhances stability, cushioning and shock absorption. Utilizing striking patterns with accents of color, XPS-1 fuses proven performance attributes with premium materials such as the finest full-grain leather uppers from Pittards® that provide a soft, yet rugged feel. XPS-1 is available in five style options, including one featuring the BOA® Closure System™. Boa is a registered trademark of Boa Technology, Inc. For more information: www.footjoy.com/xps1
artin Golf, established just last year by golf apparel veteran Rick Martin, recently unveiled its new line for the fall of 2012 with some new, yet traditional designs utilizing some of the best natural fibers available with cotton knit golf shirts and sweaters. Martin embodies his 40 years in the golf apparel industry in his new line of clothing that accents the look of the gentleman golfer that is currently only available in private clubs. And as such, his approach is about developing cloths and designs only made of nature’s products. “I don’t do polyester,” noted Martin, whose firm is headquartered in Dallas. “Call it what you want—high tech, performance fabric—it is still a polyester shirt. I never could stand to wear anything synthetic on a hot and humid day—and things haven’t changed at all. The problem I have with synthetic material is that they are easy to snag and you can’t put any heat on it. If a cotton shirt is properly done, you don’t need to iron it and you can wear it right out of the dryer.” He noted that he has traveled the world working with the finest manufacturers of cotton yarns to obtain the proper blends and treatment to get the fabrics to behave the way he wants to ensure a proper fitting, natural shirt that is easy to care for.
“We cut the shirts to the proper size and allow for a full fit for ease in turning while playing golf,” added Martin. “Our shrinkage is less than two percent after 10 washings, so you don’t have to allow for it getting smaller. Cotton shirts are the quintessential fabric for a golf shirt because it allows your body to sweat and it wicks the moisture away. We feel that a cotton shirt feels better to the skin.” For the new fall line, Martin continues the
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SWEETSTUFF by TerryRoss
company’s focus on not only natural fibers, but what Martin calls “natural colors” as well. “The Martin Golf Apparel color palette is something I’ve developed over a lifetime of experience in the apparel business,” says Martin, “and I’m proud that focus on traditional colors, as opposed to trendy ones, is among the things I’m known for.” For Martin, too much modern golf apparel has strayed from the traditional path to which he adheres. “I remember watching last year’s U.S. Open, looking at the tour players competing for the win, and being struck by the contrived look of their outfits,” recalls Martin. “The outfits had such a ‘costume’ feel, and also a stifling uniformity. Each piece was clearly designed to be worn only with pieces from the same collection. It’s great for TV but not my foursome. “My idea of golf fashion is rooted in watching legends like Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan gentlemen who always looked well put together, but never contrived. To that end, my goal is to create elegant, stylish but versatile garments that are related, but can be worn with anything.” The Fall 2012 collections embody the philosophy that led Martin to launch the company in the first place. The Essentials Collection makes use of the company’s entire color palette, bringing to the golf apparel marketplace a variety of knits and sweaters that truly live up to the Martin Golf Apparel philosophy, “As Timeless as the Game.” The Timeless Elements Collection offers items in a more specialized, yet still broad, range
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of colors. The three remaining Fall collections are perfect illustrations of Martin’s commitment to blend timelessness and tradition. The British Regimental Collection, for example, employs a color palette inspired by vintage British military uniforms, backed up by and blended with distinctive clarifying colors. In keeping with Martin’s commitment to ensuring that no garment in the Fall line is restricted to its own collection, he takes special pride in the way pieces from the British Regimental collection can be paired with those of the Charcoal Classics Collection. This collection features many of the same colors as the British Regimental line, but highlights them with light and dark charcoal shades to create a bold yet natural contrast. Finally, the Vineyard Collection specializes in what Martin calls “earthy” tones. A redeveloped wind sweater utilizing a knit lining that is 20 percent lighter is also expected to be another popular item on the Fall apparel line for Martin Golf as it continues to expand its line of new clothing. For more information on Martin Golf Apparel: www.martingolfapparel.com
A
didas Golf has taken a page out of the iconic shoe company’s distant past with the recent introduction of the colorful Samba golf shoe.
With so much emphasis these days on new technology in golf apparel, this shoe is a real throwback when it comes to design, but very modern and stylish nevertheless. As adidas history goes, the Samba dates all the way back to 1950 and was a popular indoor soccer shoe, but has evolved into today’s classic styling with colorful personality and its iconic threestripe design to become one of today’s popular golf shoes. This new entry into the adidas shoe line is both light and comfortable with a sporty feel that is more like a running shoe than many of the bulkier golf shoes on the market. The water-resistant, synthetic leather and textile upper provide soft, lightweight and durable performance while the six-Spike configuration with THINTECH low-profile technology offer improved traction and stability. It also comes with a 90 Day Comfort Guarantee. Adidas has also added some fun colors to the mix with offerings in black/white/gum, white/ black/black, satellite/white/gum, white/white/ gum, mustang brown/cream/gum colors. To celebrate this year’s major championships, four special color ways are being introduced as a limited edition Majors Collection. The shoe celebrating the Master has already sold out, but those with colors for the U.S. Open, British Open and the PGA Championship are still available or will be released shortly. For more information: www.adidasGolf.com
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The Italian Restaurant on the Beach
We believe that hard work, dedication, focus on quality products and service, along with the help of over 4,000 local loyal customers = winners of Boca Raton magazine and Delray Beach magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.
2012 Best Italian | Best Sunday Brunch | Best Wine List Runner Up Best Oceanfront | Runner Up Best Happy Hour Runner Up Best People Watching WE LOVE TO SERVE YOU THE ‘THE BEST’ GREAT FOOD, GREAT VALUE AND GREAT SERVICE FOR 19 YEARS
34 South Ocean Boulevard, Delray Beach • 561-274-9404 facebook.com/caffelunarosa caffelunarosa.com • Open 7 days, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch. Live Entertainment. Valet Parking. 38 Golf Vacations • June 2012
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